Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 3 (EMN): Director General of Police, T John Longkumer, stepped down from his position as Nagaland’s top police chief after submitting his resignation letter on January 2.
Minister of Planning and Coordination, Parliamentary Affairs, and Land Revenue, Neiba Kronu told journalists that Longkumer had tendered his resignation on Jan. 2 and the ‘Cabinet has decided to accept it’.
Kronu stated this after a Cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister's Residential Complex, Kohima, on Tuesday.
Formalities of his resignation will be observed on January 7.
As for the next DGP, Kronu said the senior-most officer will be appointed but who would take over the post was not discussed during the meeting.
United Democratic Alliance co-chairman and leader of the Naga People’s Front legislature party, Kuzholuzo Nienu, however, expressed confidence that DGP (Prisons and Home Guards, Civil Defence and SDRF), Rupin Sharma would succeed Longkumer.
A 1991 batch, Longkumer had been deputed from Chhattisgarh cadre to Nagaland cadre on administrative grounds. He assumed the position of Nagaland DGP on June 27, 2018 following the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) approval of his inter-cadre deputation for three years.
His service as the state DGP was extended two times after the expiry of three years tenure. The first extension (of one year) was till August 31, 2022 and for another six months till February 2023.
His reinstatement was opposed by a section of people including the Rising People's Party that demanded his removal to the post.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Dec. 9 had directed the Nagaland government, MHA, and Union Public Service Commission, to finalise the process of the state DGP on or before Dec. 19.